Mike and Joan were fighting about the mess in the kitchen. Mike perceived his wife’s criticisms as if they were attacks and he was defending himself against her. Joan felt threatened and was protecting herself against his defenses. She was feeling unappreciated and unloved. They were both repeating the behavior
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Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger February 7, 2019
Think of the last time you felt caught up in a distressing emotion. Your body may have felt tense, your mind may have been dwelling on the past or anticipating problems in the future and there is an intensity or urgency in the moment . Many have developed unhealthy strategies
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger February 7, 2019
Mindfulness is a state of awareness. It is cultivated by systematically focusing attention on bodily sensations, emotions, thoughts, or the surrounding environment. Mindfulness can help you detach from emotional pain (e.g., anxiety, anger, sadness, self-harm). It is basically a way to distract yourself by focusing on something other than the
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger February 7, 2019
Stress is always seen as a negative, awful thing. And sometimes it really is a negative, awful thing. After all, stress is rough on our bodies. It might raise our heart rate and blood pressure. It might trigger headaches and tension. It might prevent us from being able to rest
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Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger February 6, 2019
Nine years ago, Julie Kraft’s doctor uttered the words, “you have bipolar II disorder.” Immediately, images of unhinged film characters, sensationalist tabloid headlines and shocking news stories flooded her mind. All these things are now associated with me, she thought. Kraft felt embarrassed, ashamed, sad—and afraid. “I was fearful of
Read More Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger February 5, 2019
You didn’t get much sleep because your toddler was up half the night. You woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Just because. You got to work way too late, and it feels like nothing has been going right since. You had a misunderstanding with a friend that
Read More Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger January 26, 2019
I’m proud to announce that the Anger Management Workbook has now sold over 10,000 copies on Amazon. Are you ready to take control of your anger? The Anger Management Workbook for Men goes beyond why men get angry and helps you get to the root of your anger by including: Invaluable information
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger January 22, 2019
A stream, from a far-off mountain, passed down through the countryside, until it at last reached the sands of the desert. Just as it had crossed every other barrier, the stream tried to cross the desert, but the stream found that as fast as it ran into the sand, its
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger January 14, 2019
What situations make you angry for no apparent reason, especially when others handle the same situation calmly? Is there a particular word that irritates you? Do you get annoyed when people only drive 70 on a 55mph road? Is it situations that leave you feeling disrespected? Ignored? Like you have
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger January 9, 2019
There was once a small community of Buddhist monks. The oldest and wisest of the monks was the Abbot who came from a long line of abbots. However, in the monastery there was a novice, the youngest of the monks, and the first of his family to enter the monastic life.
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger January 5, 2019